BY PAUL DAUGHERTY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

''Willie's becoming a man,'' GM Jim Bowden says. ''This is what we've been waiting for.'' (Saed Hindash photo) | ZOOM |

PLANT CITY, Fla. - Several years ago, Reds General Manager Jim Bowden stood behind the batting cage at Plant City Stadium, when a rookie baseball reporter approached him, seeking truth.

''Don't bother me,'' Bowden said. ''I'm like a doctor in surgery.''

Was he watching Willie Greene dissect batting practice fastballs? Good chance. Ever since the Reds traded for Greene before the '92 season, Bowden has watched and waited for Greene to offer something grander than promises.

''Quick bat,'' Bowden might say of Greene. ''Look at the strength in his hands and wrists.''

Soon, Greene would be hitting 25 home runs in the major leagues. Soon is a relative thing and, as it turned out, totally dependent on Willie Greene's willingness to grow up. Not even Dr. Bowden could predict when that would be.

It wouldn't be during the '95 season. The Reds sent Greene to Indianapolis after 19 at-bats. Or last year. Even after Chris Sabo failed, Greene split time with Jeff Branson.

Greene maturity due now

Greene's time is now, at age 25. At least everybody says it is. Baseball may be a little boy's game. But only grown men play it well.

''Willie's becoming a man,'' Bowden announced yesterday. ''This is what we've been waiting for.''

Maturity doesn't come with a due date. There is no magic moment when we decide we're no longer children. Lots of people are kids at 25. Just not as publicly as Willie Greene.

Bowden saw a quick bat. He also believed whenever Greene stopped sulking and started working, stopped worrying about others and concentrated on himself, that Greene would have a chance to be as good as we have predicted.

Bowden looks smart now. Practically doctor-like. Because lots of the rest of us thought Willie Greene was a package that would never be opened.

''He's definitely ready,'' manager Ray Knight says. ''I saw him grow up last year.''

Greene has a simpler explanation: ''I got tired of sitting on the bench.''

The Reds have tried to give Greene the third base job for two years, at least. They watched while Greene moped after Bowden acquired Tony Fernandez. They sighed last spring, when Sabo's return caused Greene to show up overweight.

This year, Bowden welcomed Terry Pendleton. Pendleton will play some third. He'll also show Willie Greene there is a difference between being in the major leagues, and being a major-leaguer.

Maybe Greene doesn't need the help.

''I signed Pendleton and (Greene) didn't all the sudden lose it,'' said Bowden. ''And Pendleton's a better player than Sabo. Willie's maturing.''

The Reds expect big things. This is different from the past, when they hoped for them. ''Twenty to 25 (home runs),'' said Bowden. ''Eighty-five to 90 RBIs.''

In the past, Greene expected too much. He produced too little. The Reds owed him a job. Here I am, Willie Greene said. Play me.

This time he arrives relaxed

''They may say the job is yours, but you still have to perform. I think I took it for granted the job was mine,'' Greene said. ''I took a lot of things for granted I shouldn't have.''

He wasn't a bad guy; he just didn't know how the world worked. Greene is a quiet, country kid, who would barely be noticed if he weren't so important to this team.

Greene also feels less need to prove himself. ''He knows I know he can play,'' Knight said. ''It's a big weight off your shoulders when you know you have some room for failure.''

Greene said he came to Florida ''with good thoughts. I'm relaxed. I know what's expected.''

Said Bowden, ''We've been through a lot of ups and downs with him. Guys that are immature take longer. You wish everybody had Barry Larkin's makeup. But they don't.''

Only now, Greene does. At least, he's working on it. This is his time.

''We've waited long enough,'' Bowden said.

Hopefully, Greene would agree.

Call Paul Daugherty at 768-8454.